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Conference napalm::guitar

Title:GUITARnotes - Where Every Note has Emotion
Notice:Discussion of the finer stringed instruments
Moderator:KDX200::COOPER
Created:Thu Aug 14 1986
Last Modified:Fri Jun 06 1997
Last Successful Update:Fri Jun 06 1997
Number of topics:3280
Total number of notes:61432

2107.0. "Micro Practice Amps" by STOHUB::TRIGG::EATON () Wed Feb 13 1991 13:32

	There's been mention of the M-word MS2 micro amp in various topics, as
well as other versions of the same.  I want to open a topic dedicated to these 
little wonders.

	I've been looking through my various music catalogs and have found a 
number of different micro amps.  Here's a few to start with...

ROCKBUG Desktop AMP DTA-1

	"An almost pocket-sized amp that goes anywhere you do.  A built in
	overdrive circuit lets you wail away, while a switchable headphone 
	out lets you listen in privacy.  A presence control gives you the 
	"edge".  So all that's left to do is order one, pack up your stuff, 
	and head out into the world with a DTA-1 in your back pocket.  AC
	Adapter included."

	Price: $29.95			(Music Emporium - Spring/Summer 1990)


GUITAR BUDDY AC/DC Practice Amplifier

	"This 2 channel practice amp turns on when you plug in your guitar...
	goes off when you unplug the cord.  Comes in a durable case that's 9"
	tall, 7 1/2" wide and 4 11/16" deep.  It has volume and tone controls,
	headphone jack for private practice, and has a powerful 5" speaker.
	Built-in convenient carrying handle.  Long battery life.  The AC 
	adapter is included with each amplifier and the battery compartment 
	provides permanent storage for the adapter when not in use.

	Price: $24.88		       (Musician's Friend - Spring/Summer (90?))

	I know Fender has one as well, but I forgot to bring that catalog in 
this morning.

	Has anyone compared any of these (or others) with the Marshall version? 
Any comments to share (beyond "they ain't Marshalls!")?  My wife asked me what I 
wanted for my b-day and I thought about these.

	Dan
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2107.1Dean Markley has one tooRAVEN1::BLAIRand that ain't too cool..Wed Feb 13 1991 14:249
    
    Another one to add to the list is the full (micro) stack Dean Markley
    although, it does not look like it would be comfortable to hitch to 
    your belt or back pocket.  It is also priced comparably to the models
    you mentioned.  To be honest, I just pointed to the little guy and
    said "Wrap it up!".  I was trying to throw some business to my local
    shop that day.
    
    
2107.2review?STOHUB::TRIGG::EATONWed Feb 13 1991 14:472
	Can you give a review?  Do you like it?  Have you ever compared it with
others?
2107.3RAVEN1::BLAIRand that ain't too cool..Wed Feb 13 1991 16:0010
    
    	Nope, but I have lessons tonight (at the shop) and I'll try to 
    	remember to A/B the Dean Markley to the MS-2.  Boy, will I be 
    	pissed if I like the DM better!  I noticed if I get close enough
    	to the MS-2, it will feedback like Carlos' rig!.
    
    	(heh heh heh)
    	-pat
    
    
2107.4PELKEY::PELKEYPelican's wings been clipped. Film @ 11Wed Feb 13 1991 16:189
I've seen the Marshall, Dean Marckely and ROKAX ones..

The RokAx didn't seem worth more than $5.00




One of my sons freinds has the Marshal one.. It was alright,, I'd
prefer a rockman thou...
2107.5Tried threeSTOHUB::TRIGG::EATONWed Feb 13 1991 18:4242
	I found a place locally that had the Fender (MA10?), the Dean Markley
and the M-word (8^) micro amps.  The store rep pulled them out and gave me a 
minimal opportunity to hear them (he didn't want to let me play the guitar for
some reason - it wasn't anything special, either).

	First of all, the cosmetics.  The Fender was the worst to look at - it 
had no imagination like the others.  It looked like something you'd buy at any 
five-and-dime.  The Dean Markley was the middle-liner.  It looks like a two cab 
stack with head on top.  It still was plain plastic, but at least it looked
nice.  Of course, it was the largest of the three because of this and as was
alluded to before, it would be less desirable to clip on your belt (although I
believe it had a belt clip).  The M-word amp was the nicest looking, mainly
due to the attempt to make it look like a real miniature stack, grill cloth 
and all.

	The Dean Markley, I'm sorry to say, sounded the worst.  It could be 
that it needed new batteries or something, I don't know.  It had terrible 
speaker distortion even on the clean setting.  The Fender held the middle ground 
here, but it was not that much worse than the m-word version.  They were pretty
close, and if price were a factor, it'd be enough to steer me to the MS2.
The MS2 sounded best, especially when cranked full tilt (but that's what tiggers
do best).

	Price wise, the Fender was the cheapest, which is why I said above that 
it could be the MS2's main competition.  Now, understand that here in Missouri,
everybody puts full list price on music equipment.  You can talk them down to
just about what New England stores *start* price bidding at, but it takes some
work.  Anyway the prices for these units were:

	Fender MA10	-	$39.95
	Dean Markley	-	$49.95
	M-word MS2	-	$49.95

	The main thing I was disappointed in finding was that the distortion 
setting was preset.  I have a GHS headphone amp that I got real cheap and even 
it allows variable distortion.  I woulda thunk it not too big a deal to have it 
in one of these buggers.

	I'd still like to hear other units, too.  They're probably all built by
the same manufacturer, though, so its probably a mute point.  

	Dan
2107.6Your ears were right.CAVLRY::BUCKCoaster Nut!Wed Feb 13 1991 18:496
    -1
    
    Nope Dan, twasn't the batteries...i was going to mention a few replies
    back how HORRID that Dean Markley "stack" sounded...mega-aack!
    
    B.
2107.7Woah!GOES11::G_HOUSEI claim, therefore I am!Wed Feb 13 1991 19:3019
    Yo Dan, those prices are *outrageous*!  Even around Colorado Springs
    (not known for it's extensive music market) you can do a lot better
    then that!  
    
    You saw where someone put in the $29.95 Music Emporium price on the
    MS-2 right?  And Musicians Friend has it for like $34.95.
    
>	The main thing I was disappointed in finding was that the distortion 
>setting was preset.  I have a GHS headphone amp that I got real cheap and even 
>it allows variable distortion.  I woulda thunk it not too big a deal to have it 
>in one of these buggers.
    
    But on the Marshall, it *is* variable, you do it with the volume
    control, just like on one of their big non-master-volume heads.  The OD
    setting brings it on sooner, but you can still roll off the guitar
    volume and get it to clean up in that setting.  You can also get it to
    distort nicely on the "clean" setting by cranking the volume up!
    
    gh                                                              
2107.8but it cranks!PNO::HEISERwhere roses growWed Feb 13 1991 19:434
    I bet Marshall is makin' a killin' off that little guy!  It must cost
    all of $8 to build ;-)
    
    Mike
2107.9No problemPNO::SANDERSBI install with easeWed Feb 13 1991 19:483
        Re:              <<< Note 2107.8 by PNO::HEISER "where roses grow" >>>

        Let me take yours apart and we'll cost out the parts 8^)...
2107.10when you buy parts in quantity too..GOES11::G_HOUSEI claim, therefore I am!Wed Feb 13 1991 21:494
>    I bet Marshall is makin' a killin' off that little guy!  It must cost
>    all of $8 to build ;-)
    
    Probably not that much...
2107.11RAVEN1::BLAIRand that ain't too cool..Thu Feb 14 1991 12:0518
    
    	Yeah, the DM sucked when I tried it last night too!  Even the 
    	clean channel rattled like crazy.  They said it was dropped.  
    	Also, it had no tone control - and WE MUST HAVE TONE CONTROL!!!!!   
    	It also felt cheesy, whereas the MS-2 feels better put together.  
    	This is a nit, but the headphone jack on the MS-2 is a 1/4", which
    	would require an adapter for "walkman" style headphones.  No biggie,
    	in my opinion, cuz I don't like all them damn cords dangling from
    	my ears when I'm trying to be a mobile Pete Townsend in the house.
    	My only real complaint on the MS-2 is that the clean channel is 
    	kinda mild. (You know, they could definitely benefit by having 
    	separate EQ for both settings, I don't know why Marshall doesn't 
    	do it!)
    
    	yuk yuk,
    	-pat
    
    	
2107.128^)RAVEN1::JERRYWHITEPFC Rack Puke !Thu Feb 14 1991 12:345
    But, Marshall gear has *perfect* eq .... seems to me that they waste 3
    perfectly good knobs by putting bass/mid/treble on their heads ... they
    could just set it from the factory and everyone would be happy !   8^)
    
    Scary (who has eq on his washing machine ...)
2107.13Midi Belt RackMSBCS::KALINOWSKIThu Feb 14 1991 15:068
    Here's an Idea,
    
    	Use a Rockman as a front end into a M2 for the ultimate belt RIG.
    Or if you want to go hi-tech use one of the ZOOM processors into am M2.
    
    Now your playing with fire.
    
    Brian 
2107.14a step furtherRAVEN1::BLAIRand that ain't too cool..Thu Feb 14 1991 16:055
2107.15Pat, the slam dancer !RAVEN1::JERRYWHITEPFC Rack Puke !Thu Feb 14 1991 17:394
    You guys missed it - Pat gave me a demonstration of how this rig would
    work ... most excellent !
    
    Scary